Rushing down the hillside toward the dye house built by the river, Feng Ze Sheng pulled on the reins.
From his elevated position, he could see the dye house’s towering gates. Carriages from the direction of Taihe City had stopped at the entrance. He had come too late; Du Yan’s people had already arrived. Feng Ze Sheng’s handsome brows furrowed slightly.
In Du Yan’s hands, Ying Ying Ji would become like a tasty small fish, used as bait to lure him.
Though he was willing to take the bait, it didn’t mean he was willing to fall into Du Yan’s trap.
Coldly watching the convoy at the dye house entrance, Feng Ze Sheng sat motionless on his horse.
The guard detail behind him also stopped. Chi Hu glanced toward the dye house, quite puzzled inside. What was wrong with his master? As the sovereign’s noble brother, did he need to consider the Qing Ping Official’s feelings over a captured Tang woman he fancied? If they let Du Yan take Ying Ying Ji away, could Bai Ya Palace bear such a loss of face? But he dared not urge action, instead roundaboutly scolding a guard who squeezed past him to remind Feng Ze Sheng: “So impatient? Without master’s approval, who would dare act rashly in Bai Ya Palace’s territory?”
Feng Ze Sheng suddenly awakened, the furrows between his brows smoothing out. The court officials’ criticism and impeachment would only please his royal brother. He was the sovereign’s brother – as long as it didn’t involve usurping power or rebellion, even if he acted a bit outrageously, what could Du Yan do to him?
His relaxed expression made Chi Hu breathe easier as well. He said softly, “Matron Zhuo arranged for her to stay at the Waterside Residence.”
The Waterside Residence was by the river. For the convenience of dye house workers coming and going, there was a small door on the side. Feng Ze Sheng turned his horse and galloped toward the riverside.
Qing Ping Official Du Yan wouldn’t come personally for the small matter of taking Ying Ying Ji from the dye house. Because of Fifth Miss Niu’s letter, the task was given to Xiu Yuan Zhao. Remembering his public humiliation at the dye house that day, Zhao Xiu Yuan felt hatred. Times had changed – the face he lost at this dye house, he would now reclaim.
Before coming to Nanzhao, Prince Bai Feng Ze Sheng had seemed lofty and superior in Zhao Xiu Yuan’s mind. These days, Zhao Xiu Yuan has learned about Nanzhao court power dynamics at the weaving bureau. He was shocked to discover that the sovereign’s brother, capable of leading armies to attack Tang, was not imperious in Nanzhao. Feng Ze Sheng’s sphere of influence was limited to his fief. And his fief, apart from vast lands and over ten thousand slaves, had less than a thousand guards truly capable of fighting. The Nanzhao sovereign had given his same-surname brother only honor and wealth. In terms of court power, Feng Ze Sheng was inferior to the favored Qing Ping Official Du Yan.
Having promised to hand over Ying Ying Ji if she was captured, yet publicly snatching her away, Feng Ze Sheng’s actions were undoubtedly treacherous and love-stealing in Zhao Xiu Yuan’s mind. Feng Ze Sheng’s kick had not only injured Zhao Xiu Yuan’s pride but had kicked him into Qing Ping Official Du Yan’s camp.
Sitting properly in his carriage, Zhao Xiu Yuan thought of his ugly wife Fifth Miss Niu. He recalled their wedding night. Fifth Miss Niu had spoken the word “partner.” Now, as he was thinking of how to ally with Du Yan, Fifth Miss Niu had already arranged it properly. That clever woman had used the Huanhua Brocade to help Du Yan find a reason to take Ying Ying Ji away. She also made Zhao Xiu Yuan abandon thoughts of kicking Fifth Miss Niu out of the Zhao family. In unfamiliar Nanzhao, he needed a partner like Fifth Miss Niu.
With the Qing Ping Official’s order and legitimate reason to take Ying Ying Ji away, the dye house would have to comply. The clerk and dye house managers had stood respectfully at the gate for a quarter-hour before Zhao Xiu Yuan slowly descended from his carriage.
“Sought refuge with Prince Bai, yet I don’t see you living in Bai Ya Palace?” Zhao Xiu Yuan muttered, looking arrogantly at the bowing, smiling clerk and the curtseying Matron Zhuo.
Arrogant before, submissive after. This was the change brought about by power. Zhao Xiu Yuan was determined to stand with Qing Ping Official Du Yan.
“This official comes by order of Great Lord Qing Ping and the Ambassador to invite Second Miss Ji to the weaving house, to match silk threads for weaving Huanhua Brocade.” Zhao Xiu Yuan produced Du Yan’s token.
“Deputy Envoy, please rest in the main hall. This humble official will send someone to bring Lady Yang Ji.” Seeing the token, the clerk secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With the Qing Ping Official’s token, Prince Bai couldn’t possibly trouble him.
After sitting with Zhao Xiu Yuan in the dye house’s main hall without Feng Ze Sheng appearing, Matron Zhuo sighed quietly and said, “This old servant will go call Lady Yang Ji.”
“No need. This official will go personally.” Zhao Xiu Yuan said arrogantly. This time, would Feng Ze Sheng dare snatch her away? He was truly eager to see the expression on Ying Ying Ji’s face.
The clerk and Matron Zhuo exchanged helpless glances, then lowered their heads and followed Zhao Xiu Yuan toward the Waterside Residence.
Near dusk, the sun was still brilliant. Light streaming through windows and doors fell on the large wooden table. The fabrics were colorful, like a table full of blooming flowers.
“My lady’s hands are truly skilled,” Jin A carefully touched these fabrics.
The fabrics dyed with Nanzhao’s special dyes could produce such brilliant and varied colors. Jin A looked at them enviously – how wonderful it would be if her daughter could wear a skirt made of such colorful fabric at her wedding.
Ying Ying Ji smiled: “That’s not difficult. Just prepare the fabric and dyes yourself, and I’ll dye it specially for you.”
Jin A said uneasily: “This servant only has coarse homespun cloth.”
“It will look just as good,” Ying Ying Ji said softly. “Bring it back tomorrow, and I can dye it then.”
Servants like Jin A lived outside the dye house. Having received Ying Ying Ji’s permission, Jin A was overjoyed and hurriedly left.
Ying Ying Ji turned around, folding the colored fabrics one by one. Hearing footsteps at the door again, she laughed: “Jin A, why are you running so urgently…”
Turning around, she saw Feng Ze Sheng.
The sun shone from behind him, casting a long shadow on the ground. As if he had hurried, the edges of his black cape rippled slightly. Her gaze fell to his waist, where a deep blue belt several inches wide was set with a row of red and green gems that flickered with dark light. A curved knife like a crescent moon hung from the belt on a silver chain.
His hand at his side slowly clenched, as if gripping Ying Ying Ji’s heart, making her involuntarily tense. Why would Feng Ze Sheng still come?
“Prince Bai.” Ying Ying Ji lowered her gaze, curtsying slightly, her downcast eyes seeing him walk toward her.
His strides were extremely long, reaching her in just a few steps. “These are all newly dyed test fabrics.”
His heart and mind were all on how to let Nanzhao learn dyeing and brocade weaving. This batch of newly dyed colored fabric would repay his kindness. Ying Ying Ji turned accordingly, unfolding the folded fabrics again: “Yes. What does Your Highness think?”
The words Feng Ze Sheng had prepared caught in his throat. A bitterness spread from under his tongue. Nanzhao’s elephants would never lower their heads to gore – even in death they would raise their necks high and cry out in grief. Pride prevented him from speaking his true purpose for coming.
He changed course and told Ying Ying Ji: “After seeing the Zhao family’s ‘By the River’ piece, the sovereign became very curious about the new brocade the Yang family is preparing for this year’s brocade competition. The Qing Ping Official suggested having you go to the weaving house to weave the Yang family’s Huanhua Brocade. Deputy Weaving Bureau Official Zhao Xiu Yuan has already entered the dye house.”
Du Yan, Zhao Xiu Yuan. No matter whose hands she fell into, she couldn’t protect herself. Ying Ying Ji stared blankly at the fabric spread on the wooden table, her fingers slowly stroking the cloth. She understood Feng Ze Sheng’s intentions: “Has Your Highness come to take me back to Bai Ya Palace?”